Who Needs Enemies With Friends Like These

Raylan had been trying to figure out a solution to his problem the entire drive but still hadn't found success. He was picking Nate up from a fitness club just north of the Harlan county line. There had been an early dismissal from school and Tim, who Nate had really taken to, had not only picked him up but had transported him down to this gym where the lead trainer was a martial arts instructor and did several Tai Chi classes as well. Raylan had insisted that Nate despite his health issues learn some self-defense tactics and the boy discovered that the gentle practice of Tai Chi helped him relax and focus. Since moving to Lexington he hadn't found Nate anyplace to practice but Tim came to the rescue at least for the day.

Nate was at an awkward stage; he was capable of being alone and legally allowed to do so, but Raylan was uncomfortable with his son being home alone for an undefined amount of time so he had enrolled him in the afterschool program. He had to be picked up by 5:30 which ensured that Raylan got out of the office at a reasonable time in order to pick him up. Art allowed him to bring Nate to work once a week right after school and after hours if necessary. Other than the undercover issues he had always been very well behaved and helpful while he was there. But with the early dismissal there was no afterschool care and he had been grateful for Tim's efforts, but it now had created a problem. The gym was not far from where Raylan was ultimately going and he had no time to take Nate back to Lexington nor could he leave him there as the facility was closing. So the kid was coming along for the ride and he could only pray that it would all end up okay.

Raylan pulled into the parking lot to see the instructor standing there with Nate next to him gym bag in hand. The man came around to the drivers' side window and smiled. "Sorry to be so rushed but my wife has child birth classes tonight and she gets cranky if I'm late. Nate did great, we worked on several things and I sent a couple of DVD's home with him to use. He can keep them as I want him to practice at least four times a week. He is more than welcome to come down here anytime, no charge."

"Well thank you for everything, I may take you up on that from time to time," Raylan said reaching out the window to shake the man's hand.

"Have fun?" he asked Nate as they pulled out of the lot.

"Yeah, it was great, he worked on my kicks and stuff that you wanted me to practice then we did a session of Tai Chi. I had rice for lunch, that's all he had."

"Are you hungry?"

"Not really, just tired. Why are we going south?" He asked as Raylan turned out of the parking lot.

"I have to stop by a friend's house before we go home. It shouldn't take long."

"That's what you always say."

"Yes I do say that from time to time but this time I mean it. You can just relax in the car."

"You always say that too," Nate complained.

"No I don't."

"Yes you do."

"Well the last time you didn't and it caused a big uproar so just stay in the car this time."

"Is this another gang of gun runners?"

"No, now that's enough just read a book or something."

"It's dark, I can't see." Nate argued.

"Then take a nap. You should be tired you were up at five." Due to his mother's early shift at the hospital Nate had become accustomed to getting up very early in the morning, a habit his body couldn't seem to shake. It had him up and ready for school in plenty of time but he often ran out of steam on the early side. Nate was curious and frustrated about the upcoming destination but the gentle motion of the car coupled with his early start and busy day began to rock him to sleep.

Nate opened his eyes and was disoriented wondering where he was and why he was still in the car when it had obviously reached its destination. He blinked several times and turned on the dome light to see a note balanced on the steering wheel. STAY IN THE CAR! Nate yawned and looked out the window to see a house in front of him with few neighbors around. There were two other vehicles next to the car and plenty of lights on in the house. He strained to hear but was met with silence. He tried to read under the dome light but found the shadows too difficult to overcome. He then pulled his phone out and pulled up a game but it immediately beeped indicating a low battery. He blew out enough air from his mouth that his bangs jumped from his forehead. He was officially out of things to do.

Inside the house Raylan couldn't figure out Ava's gestures as she was tilting her head and making her eyes wide. But the reason became apparent soon enough as Nate came around the corner. He had entered the house so quietly they hadn't even heard him. He saw Raylan at one end of the table Ava standing nearby with a shotgun and a man he didn't know at the opposite end of the table a gun laying within reach.

"Now, I thought I told you to stay in the car," Raylan said his shoulders slumping ever so slightly.

"I got bored," Nate replied. "Besides, you said you wouldn't be long."

Ava looked from Raylan to Nate and back again and Boyd smiled. "Now this must be your boy Raylan, he looks just like you. He has your eyes both in color and intensity. Do you know that I was a friend of your mother when you were little?" Boyd asked turning towards Nate. Nate just shook his head. "As a matter of fact I even babysat you a couple of times. We played a rousing game of peek-a-boo before you got old enough for hide and seek. I almost didn't find you one time."

Raylan's eyes got wide and he cocked his head. "I don't recall any of that."

"You wouldn't have, you were busy marshaling. It was only a few times, but I will always remember his laugh. There is nothing more precious than a happy child. You know Raylan I am a firm believer in the fact that it takes a village to raise up a child and I am just pleased that I was a part of that village even if it was just for a brief time." Boyd said smiling. "Why don't you come on over here Nate and have a seat at the table."

Nate didn't move until Boyd began to stand up and Raylan moved his gun hand. "I'll sit over there," Nate said heading to the opposite side of the table away from Ava and her shotgun. He pulled out a chair just down from Boyd and felt his father's ire burn right into him. The mood in the room had shifted since Nate's arrival but nobody was quite sure where it had landed.

"Boyd you are not a part of any village that has to do with my child. And apparently we need to talk about how to follow directions," Raylan told his son, annoyance in his eyes.

"Yes sir," Nate replied meekly.

"Now Raylan you can't condemn the boy for acting just like his daddy. If I recall correctly you were a bit antsy yourself back in the day. After all, this boy is a Givens, and Givens tend to make some noise wherever they go. Is he aware of all the responsibility that goes with his surname? The burden he will have to bear? Have you discussed the dichotomy that is his bloodline?"

"Now is not the time for that conversation and to tell you the truth Boyd, I'm still known to be a bit antsy," Raylan said flexing his fingers. "It was great reminiscing but I think it would be best for my son to go back outside and wait in the car." Boyd's words had made Raylan very uncomfortable; the last thing he needed was Nate to start asking questions that he had no desire or intention of answering anytime soon.

"But I would love to catch up with him. Wouldn't that be fun Nate?"

"Well I would rather you didn't," Raylan said with a forced smile.

The tension in the room had amped up as each man stared the other down from their respective ends of the table. Nate and Ava looked at each other unsure of what they should do. They could all feel it coming and despite Nate willing it away Boyd reached for his gun. But he was still no match for Raylan's quick hands and suddenly Boyd tipped backwards blood quickly seeping from his shirt. Ava stumbled as the shotgun went off putting a hole in her dining room ceiling. Nate stood up and looked over at Boyd as Raylan marched over.

"You okay?" he asked Nate.

"Yes sir," he replied.

"Then sit down and call 911," he said his voice stern and no nonsense.

Nate pulled out his phone but found the signal weak. "I don't know if it will work, I only have one bar that keeps coming and going."

"Then use the phone in the kitchen," Raylan ordered.

He ran to the kitchen but when he pulled the handset off and wasn't sure what to think. "Dad there's no number pad, just holes in a circle."

Raylan looked up in confusion as Ava set the shotgun down. "It's a rotary dial; he's probably never seen one before."

"Stick your fingers in the holes and turn the dial," Raylan yelled.

Ava went to the kitchen and grabbed a towel from the drawer and found that Nate had figured out the antiquated phone.

"You did it, you really did it." Boyd was saying.

Nate knew Boyd would be dead if that's what Raylan had wanted but their old friendship must have come into play. Boyd himself even disputed the injury. "You must have missed on purpose."

"Sometimes you can get just a little off; it must be your lucky day." Raylan said looking back over at Nate who was looking at the hole in the ceiling where Ava had taken out a chunk of plaster. Once again just as it had been with the pedophile he didn't appear to be all that rattled with what had just happened. Raylan blew out a mouthful of air, still unsure how to feel about that. He had been told many times that he had ice cold water running through his veins and he was beginning to fear it was hereditary. Not that it was a totally bad thing, but it tended to take one into dangerous situations, which Nate at his tender age had already seemed to master.

It took a while for the ambulance to cart Boyd off and for all the necessary questions to be answered. Nate sat quietly through most of it but was more than ready to go when they were finally released. The car was silent and Raylan wasn't sure what to say or do about what had just happened.

"Do you want to talk about what just happened?" Raylan asked.

"Not really, I'm good."

"You're sure, because that could be quite traumatizing."

"Nope, I'm fine."

"Okay then let's shift gears. I want you to give me one good reason why I shouldn't stop this car right now and put you over my knee."

Nate swallowed hard gathering his thoughts. He had hoped the delay had lessened his father's anger but apparently it had only postponed it, as Raylan's face was deadly serious, his eyes a testament to his fury. "Cause the shoulder's not that big and it wouldn't be a safe thing to do. But really Dad," he backpedalled when Raylan wasn't the least bit amused; "you said you had to stop at a friend's house, how was I supposed to know everybody had guns. I mean that's just not normal and what did Boyd mean about being a Givens and the contradiction of my bloodline?"

"No changing the subject," Raylan said cursing the fact that his son had indeed understood what the word dichotomy had meant. He assumed Boyd had chosen it so that the conversation would remain somewhat over his head; but the attempt had failed miserably. He put his angry dad face on and turned to look at his son; "the fact of the matter is I told you to stay in the car; hell I even left you a note clearly stating your instructions. But could you manage to follow them? No not at all." He said answering his own question.

"I feel like I always have to wait. You don't know what it's like to wait forever and not know when you're going to get to leave."

"Oh you think I've never had to wait is that it? Well let me tell you I've waited plenty of times for Arlo while he was at the VFW. He would tell me to wait and wait I did every time."

"Every time?" Nate questioned.

"Well almost every time, I did leave once. I decided to walk home got about half way when a friend came by and drove me the rest of the way."

"What happened?"

"Hmmm?" Raylan asked after being lost in thought. "Not pleasant memories."

"Oh, was it bad?"

"What about 'not pleasant memories' did you not understand?" Raylan had never spoken much about his childhood and had no plans to share anything specific with his son. Arlo hadn't seemed to change a bit and Nate was no idiot, he could see the instability in his grandfather and that was more than enough knowledge for now.

"So why was everybody packing in there? I mean you said friends but that wasn't a very friendly situation." Nate asked changing the subject.

"Look Boyd and I go way back, we dug coal together at one time and Ava I knew from school."

"I wouldn't want to go to your high school reunion, it could be a bloodbath."

"Yeah, you're cute, you know that?"

"Yep, so why were you there tonight?"

"I'm supposed to be lecturing you, how did this get turned around?"

"Because I'm an incredible linguist."

"That you are," Raylan agreed. "Ava was married to Boyd's brother Boman."

"So where was he?"

"Dead, Ava shot him several months ago. Before you pass judgment he was abusive and she killed him in self-defense. Boyd came by uninvited and Ava was a little unsettled with what his plans might be."

"So she called you. And what are you getting in return; I mean I would think you could find safer sex than that."

"Excuse me?"

"I saw how she looked at you, there's something going on there. Whatever it's not like I care, a man has his needs. But she could have called the cops instead of you."

Raylan shook his head; Nate studied people just as he studied the written word. Everything was a project to him; something with information to be collected and assembled like a model. "Boyd wanted to talk to me and he knew I would come if he was with Ava."

"See everybody knows you're an item."

"We're not an item, would you just knock it off. Christ I don't know how you twist everything around. You are the one in the hot seat and I'm the one sweating."

"I'd prefer you to cool off but it's your choice."

Raylan shook his head and realized just how much his son was just like him. No wonder Art was so cranky.

Nate fell asleep not long after their conversation and was hard to stir when they got home. Raylan was glad at least the boy could sleep soundly despite what he had just witnessed. The clock read 1:55 AM when they finally got into the house. "Go to bed and I suggest that you let me wake you up for school instead of your usual five o'clock wake up."

"I have to go to school?" Nate asked.

"Yes you have to go, I have to work and you have to go to school. But I'll pick you up after you'll need to give your statement again. I'm sure you're getting good at them."

"Practice makes perfect," Nate said before he shuffled off to bed.